SALISBURY, Md. — A beaver that has settled in a Maryland city park can stay despite chewing down trees.

Officials in Salisbury say the state Department of Natural Resources has recommended the beaver should be allowed to stay in a creek in the park, where it appeared last fall. It is toppling trees by chewing through their trunks as part of its winter food supply.

State game management official Pete Jayne told The Daily Times of Salisbury that beavers can stay in one place for years. (http://bit.ly/yJ9HRe) depending on how much food is available.

The nearby Salisbury Zoo has two beavers. Zoo director Joel Hamilton says wild beavers were once nearly extinct in the area but are coming back